Land claimants demand answers
Angry group say payments suddenly quit
AN ANGRY group of elderly citizens from three villages outside Komani this week made an unannounced visit to the Eastern Cape rural development and land reform department demanding payments for their land claims.
The drama played out in the East London offices of the department’s land claims implementing agency commission on restitution of land rights.
The 14 senior citizens wanted answers regarding the lengthy and sudden halting of the claims payout process. They represent about 3 000 families from Bacles Farm, Tender Gate and Springroove.
Together they form part of what has become known as the Ntabethemba/Thornhill land claim.
They lodged their claims 21 years ago and some of the original signatories have since died.
The commission started issuing payouts in the 2013-14 financial year but stopped before everyone was paid, the group claimed.
Group representative Paseka Mvula said this week that when they arrived at the commission to seek answers they were ushered into the commission’s boardroom by deputy director of operational management Zolisa Pona.
“It was only us and her in the boardroom. She blamed the delay in payments on shortage of core staff and budget shortfalls.
“She pleaded with us to be patient saying we would receive our money in the 2017-18 financial year. We then asked her what happened to the 2015-16 financial year budget but she could not answer.
“Our main worry is that some of the people who were part and parcel of this claim are dying without having seen the money,” he said.
Commission spokeswoman Nandi Sondati said a quarter of a billion rand had already been paid out to the Ntabethemba claimants.
Their claim was divided into three phases, Sondati said.
“The commission is currently paying out beneficiaries verified for phase 1 and phase 2. Those who might not have been paid are those who have not signed their settlement agreements and those who have not submitted the required documents such as ID copies.”
She said all verified claimants for phases 1 and 2 would be paid.
“Then there is phase 3 of the project that has not been settled yet. The office is busy completing a verification list of all beneficiaries.”
She said 1 071 families in phase 1 had already been paid R126.8-million and 1 313 families in phase 2 had been paid R149.4-million.
“Following the payments made … the commission visited the communities verified for phase 1 and phase 2 to continue with payments in October 2017,” Sondati said. —